Rotary basting brush

ABSTRACT

A baster includes a rotary brush applicator mounted at an end of an elongated handle. The rotary brush applicator has a pivotally mounted horizontal spindle, and a plurality of flexible applicator surfaces are affixed to the horizontal spindle. A spoon-like vessel is mounted proximate to the rotary brush applicator and has an open end and a concave closed end, such that the rotary brush is pivotally mounted within the spoon-like vessel.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 12/485,449 filed 16 Jun. 2009, which was a non-provisional application based on provisional application Ser. No. 61/132,048 filed 16 Jun. 2008.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention described herein is a novel improvement to a well known cooking accessory. More particularly, it is basting device that incorporates a rotary brush applicator with a spoon-like reservoir to quickly and efficiently apply marinades, sauces or the like (hereinafter, liquids) to food.

Basting brushes have long been used during the cooking process to apply liquids to the surface of foods enhancing their flavor. Prior art shows numerous examples of basting brush devices comprised of various materials. A traditional embodiment is a thin flat wooden handle approximately 6″-8″ long with natural or synthetic bristles affixed to one end. A similarly arranged modern embodiment utilizes a heat resistant handle of plastic or metal and a heat resistant silicone rubber brush. Regardless of material makeup, both examples rely on the capillary action within the brush bristles to retain liquid as it is transferred from a vessel and applied to the surface of the food. This often proves tedious for a cook, especially when large amounts of food or food surface areas require basting. Recently some manufacturers have added flexible grid-like inserts within silicone brushes to help retain more liquid. Though this improves the function slightly, the capacity of liquid retained by the insert is still too limited to be substantially effective.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of the invention and its advantages will be apparent from a review of the Detailed Description in conjunction with the following Drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a partial side view of the preferred embodiment working end applying liquid to food;

FIG. 2 is a partial side view of the working end of an alternative embodiment device without a spoon-like vessel;

FIG. 3 is a partially broken-away schematic side view of another embodiment of the rotary brush applicator used with a pre-filled liquid dispenser;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a top end exploded view of the preferred embodiment showing inset pivot points; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective exploded view showing a method of assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring initially to FIGS. 1-6, where like numerals indicate like and corresponding elements, the preferred embodiment is includes a handle 1 and a spoon-like vessel 3 that communicates with a rotary brush applicator 2. Similar in size to traditional basting brush devices, a key feature of this solution differs in that its spoon-like vessel 3 captures and retains more liquid than a typical basting brush. Another key feature is the rotary brush applicator 2 which consists of a horizontal spindle 5 with a series of flexible applicator surfaces 4 extending outward in a perpendicular radial pattern. “Flexible” is used in its ordinary sense to mean easily bendable. The rotary brush applicator 2 retains more liquid than a typical basting brush because of the increased contact surface area of the flexible applicator surfaces 4. Also, as it rotates, the rotary brush applicator 2 applies liquid captured within the spoon-like vessel 3 onto the food 6.

In operation, the user intends to transfer a liquid from a container to the surface of the food 6. The working end of the device 7 is then submerged into the liquid. The user then removes the device in a way that captures a portion of the liquid within the spoon-like vessel 3. The device is brought to the food 6 and positioned (FIG. 1) such that the liquid pours from the spoon-like vessel 3 onto the food surface. As the liquid dispenses, the rotary brush applicator 2 is brought into contact with the food surface 6 and in a back and forth motion, facilitates even distribution of the liquid.

Though it is meant to fully describe the invention as described here, it can be reasonably assumed that those skilled in the art could modify or alter certain aspects without departing from its original spirit. For example, it is reasonable to assume the rotary brush applicator could in itself be considered a novel improvement to a basting device even without the spoon-like vessel (FIG. 2). Another variation could be the addition of various less flexible projections amongst the flexible applicator surfaces 4 to aid in the rotation of the rotary brush applicator 2. Still another novel variation could be to combine the rotary brush applicator 2 with a dispenser (FIG. 3) pre-filled with liquid 11. There may also be other ways to attach the rotary brush applicator 2 to the spoon-like vessel 3. For example, (FIG. 2) shows a spindle 5 that communicates with two lateral pivot points 9 at either side of the rotary brush applicator 2, (FIG. 5), (FIG. 6) show a spindle that communicates with two pivot points 10 that are partially inset within a rotary brush applicator 2. Though not illustrated, a single central pivot point might also be used.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in several types of basting brushes, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention. 

1. A baster comprising: an elongated handle; and a rotary brush applicator mounted at an end of the elongated handle, where the rotary brush applicator has a pivotally mounted horizontal spindle, and where a plurality of flexible applicator surfaces are affixed to said horizontal spindle.
 2. The baster of claim 1, where a spoon-like vessel is mounted proximate to the rotary brush applicator, with the spoon-like vessel having an open end and a concave closed end.
 3. The baster of claim 2, where the rotary brush is pivotally mounted within the spoon-like vessel.
 4. The baster of claim 1, where the rotary brush is removably mounted at an end of the elongated handle.
 5. The baster of claim 1, where less flexible projections are affixed amongst the flexible applicator surfaces.
 6. A baster comprising: an elongated handle; a rotary brush applicator mounted at an end of the elongated handle, where the rotary brush applicator has a pivotally mounted horizontal spindle, and where a plurality of flexible applicator surfaces are affixed to said horizontal spindle; and a spoon-like vessel mounted proximate to the rotary brush applicator, where the spoon-like vessel has an open end and a concave closed end.
 7. The baster of claim 6, where the rotary brush is pivotally mounted within the spoon-like vessel.
 8. The baster of claim 6, where the rotary brush is removably mounted at an end of the elongated handle.
 9. The baster of claim 6, where less flexible projections are affixed amongst the flexible applicator surfaces.
 10. A baster comprising: an elongated handle; a rotary brush applicator mounted at an end of the elongated handle, where the rotary brush applicator has a pivotally mounted horizontal spindle, and where a plurality of flexible applicator surfaces are affixed to said horizontal spindle; and a spoon-like vessel mounted proximate to the rotary brush applicator, where the spoon-like vessel has an open end and a concave closed end, and where the rotary brush is pivotally mounted within the spoon-like vessel.
 11. The baster of claim 10, wherein less flexible projections are affixed amongst the flexible applicator surfaces.
 12. The baster of claim 10, where the rotary brush is removably mounted at an end of the elongated handle.
 13. A baster comprising: an elongated handle; a rotary brush applicator removably mounted at an end of the elongated handle, where the rotary brush applicator has a pivotally mounted horizontal spindle, where a plurality of flexible applicator surfaces are affixed to said horizontal spindle, and where less flexible projections are affixed amongst the flexible applicator surfaces; and a spoon-like vessel mounted proximate to the rotary brush applicator, where the spoon-like vessel has an open end and a concave closed end, and where the rotary brush is pivotally mounted within the spoon-like vessel.
 14. The baster of claim 13, wherein less flexible projections are affixed amongst the flexible applicator surfaces.
 15. A baster comprising: an elongated handle; a rotary brush applicator removably mounted at an end of the elongated handle, where the rotary brush applicator has a pivotally mounted horizontal spindle, where a plurality of flexible applicator surfaces are affixed to said horizontal spindle, and where less flexible projections are affixed amongst the flexible applicator surfaces; and a spoon-like vessel mounted proximate to the rotary brush applicator, where the spoon-like vessel has an open end and a concave closed end, where the rotary brush is pivotally mounted within the spoon-like vessel, and where less flexible projections are affixed amongst the flexible applicator surfaces. 